Xewkija lies
3 kms east of Victoria. It's name is derived from the Maltese word 'Xewk',
meaning thistles or thorns.
It is dominated by a huge
rotunda church completed in 1971 having taken around 20 years to
build. It was built to rival the Mosta Rotunda in Malta and it
succeeds in height, but not in diameter. The dome is larger than
St Paul's Cathedral in London, and can hold a congregation of 3000 -
around the entire population of Xewkija. The village was the first
parish outside the capital, and it is said to be the first place on Gozo
to convert to Christianity.
Xewkija is one of the oldest villages of Gozo and took the status of a
parish as early as 1678. Years later a parish church, dedicated to St.
John the Baptist, was erected, and was consecrated in 1755.
After the 2nd World War, the parishioners, who are traditionally renowned
for their building abilities and craftsmanship on Maltese stone, expressed
their wish to construct a new and majestic Parish Church. Architect Joseph
D'Amato, much inspired by the famous Basilica of Santa Maria Della Salute
in Venice, drew the plans. The first stone was laid down in 1951. The old
church of St. John was left in place during the work and continued to
function as before until the new building was completed. Many donations
were offered, and free labour by the people was forthcoming all the time.
This enabled the enormous structure to rise higher year by year until in
1978, after twenty years of hard work, the new temple was ready. The year
1978 was the 300th anniversary of the parish and that was another motive
for celebration when the Bishop of Gozo performed the ceremony of
consecration. As part of the celebrations, the large cross was placed on
top of the huge dome on that occasion.
The monumental church is an enormous circular structure in white local
limestone. Because of its form it is called The Rotunda. Eight concrete
columns covered with stone support its elegant dome, 75 metres high, with
a 28 metre diameter, and a circumference of 85 metres. This boasts the
third largest unsupported dome in the World. Its weight is calculated
to around 45,000 tonnes. The interior is richly decorated with fine
sculptures and modern paintings. The floor is in polished Carrara marble
and the main altar is also carved in precious marble. The Rotunda of
Xewkija is a superb architectural masterpiece that reveals the exquisite
texture and the versatility of local limestone.
A short time before the Rotunda was completed, the old church was
carefully dismantled, and the best parts of it were delicately rebuilt
next to the church. This brilliant idea of saving the old church was
of course an uncommon godsend, since the unique masterpieces in stonework
of the old church would have otherwise perished. One can visit the
remnants of the old church and discover the incredible and delicate
"laceworks" on Maltese stone. From the old church, visitors can
opt to climb to the Dome by an elevator to enjoy a spectacular view of the
island of Gozo and even parts of Malta.
The liturgical feast of St. John the Baptist falls on 24th June, and
the external festivities are celebrated on the closest Sunday
